Achoo! Allergies in San Antonio

Always rough for allergy sufferers, San Antonio will be especially bad this spring

By Lauren Moriarty

Photo Courtesy Shutterstock

Winter showers may bring spring flowers but in San Antonio, the season also produces quite a few sniffles. While the freezing winter months provide a break in cities north of San Antonio, mild South Texas winters mean mountain cedar can pollinate in winter before other trees pollinate in spring. And this year, our particularly mild winter means spring allergy season could come even earlier than usual, says Dr. Edward Brooks, who specializes in pediatric allergy and immunology with UT Medicine at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. “How much (pollen) flies in the air and makes it to your nose depends on the weather,” he says. Mountain cedar plagues San Antonio sufferers through mid-February, says KSAT Meteorologist Steve Browne, who tracks allergens along with his weather report. Eastern cedar pollen then increases in February and lasts through March. The spring allergy season peaks in March and mid-April when junipers, oaks and other trees pollinate. Relief finally arrives by summer, but until then, pass the Kleenex.

Five Tips for Surviving from Dr. Brooks

1. Take Your Medicine

Skip your morning medication and you might feel fine for a few hours, since trees pollinate at night. But it will lead to suffering later in the day.

2. Not All Meds Are Equal

The most effective medications are steroid nasal sprays. Keep an eye on pollen counts and start medication at the onset of the season, rather than waiting for your symptoms to occur.

3. Use the A/C

And keep your windows closed, particularly at night and in the morning.

4. Keep Clean

Rinse your eyes to wash pollen out. And while it can be a hassle, having separate clothes for indoor and outdoor use—especially for kids who play outside—will cut down on the amount of allergens you bring inside.

5. Plan for Shots

Don’t start allergy shots for the first time during high pollen season—this causes more reactions and is much riskier.

How San Antonio’s spring allergens stack up to other Texas metro areas*